Power connection control system and method

ABSTRACT

For each of consumers, a connection control apparatus is provided that includes an opening/closing device capable of connecting or disconnecting an electric power system and a consumer, that, when a power outage occurs in the electric power system, disconnects the electric power system and the consumer from each other by the opening/closing device at a command from an outage management apparatus or the like, and that connects the electric power system and the consumer to each other by the opening/closing device upon receiving a command from the outage management apparatus or the like at the time of restoration from the power outage. A power supply control apparatus supplies electric power from energy provision equipment to electrical appliances during a power outage in the electric power system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No.14/000,565 filed Aug. 20, 2013, which is a National Stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/JP2012/074732 filed Sep. 26, 2012,claiming priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-209371filed Sep. 26, 2011, the contents of all of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a power connection control system and amethod including energy provision equipment that can supply electricpower to loads.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, the global warming problem has become noticeable;awareness about the environment on the part of nations, corporations andconsumers has grown; and there has been an increasing trend to reducethe emission of global warming gas (CO₂) that accompanies theconsumption of energy. Therefore, renewable power sources, such as solarpower generation (photovoltaic generation) and wind power generation (awind farm), which do not generate global warming gas emissions, andwhich have limited adverse effects on the environment, and whichgenerate power using natural energy, are attracting attention.

The amount of power generation in a renewable power source variesdepending on the weather. Therefore a renewable power source isordinarily operated by being linked to an electric power (distribution)system so that the quality of power supplied to a consumer ismaintained. In that case, surplus power generated by the renewable powersource and not consumed by the consumer is provided to the electricpower system (reverse power flow) through a power line (transmissionline). However, in a case where the consumer has such a contract withthe electric power company that manages the electric power system suchthat there will not be any reverse power flow, the renewable powersource is disconnected from the electric power system when surplus poweris produced in the renewable power source. In some cases, a renewablepower source is used with a storage battery to limit wasteful discardingof generated surplus electric power and to stabilize the amount ofelectric power supplied to a consumer. A consumer is a unit such as ahouse, a corporation, a building or a factory connected to an electricpower system, which may also be an individual, a juridical person, agroup, or the like who has a power-demand-supply contract with anconsumption-supply contract with an electric power company. “Consumer”referred to in the following denotes both a unit such as theabove-mentioned house, corporation, building or factory connected to anelectric power system and an individual, a juridical person, a group, orthe like who manages the house, corporation, building or factory, ordenotes one from among the unit and the person or group managing theunit.

When supply of electric power from the electric power system to theconsumer is stopped by an accident or the like (in a power outage),there is a need to stop the operation of the renewable power sourceoperated by being linked to the electric power system or to disconnectthe renewable power source from the electric power system in order toprevent the above-described reverse power flow. This is because if areverse power flow from the renewable power source exists, voltage isgenerated in the power distribution line even during power outage tocause difficulty in ascertaining the cause of the occurrence of thepower outage, and because the risk of an electric shock accident, amalfunction of electric facilities, or the like is increased due toaccess to the electric power system after recognition of the poweroutage.

On the other hand, it is desirable for the consumer to be able to use,just during the power outage, electric power generated by the renewablepower source held by the consumer or electric power accumulated in astorage battery. Therefore a power conditioner that enables therenewable power source to be connected to the electric power systemordinarily has a function to disconnect the renewable power source fromthe electric power system (e.g., a circuit breaker). When the renewablepower source is not connected to the electric power system, electricpower can be supplied from an emergency receptacle provided on the powerconditioner to a load by activating an autonomous operation function.

Patent Literatures 1 and 2, for example, describe configurations forsupplying, during a power outage, electric power generated by agenerator for private power generation or a gas cogeneration system toloads (electrical appliances) provided on the consumer side, each ofwhich includes no renewable power source used in generation facilities.

Patent Literature 1 describes receiving online an expected restorationtime from an electric power company in a power outage, and selectingloads (electrical appliances) to which electric power is to be suppliedfrom a generator for private power generation according to whether thetime taken to complete power restoration from the outage is short orlong.

Patent Literature 2 describes accepting, upon the occurrence of a poweroutage, a predicted outage time period and predicted power demandfluctuation values with respect to loads, input by an operator,controlling the amount of power generation in a gas cogeneration systemand the amount of electricity accumulated in a storage battery and theamount of discharge from the storage battery based on the predicted timeand the predicted values, and selecting loads to which electric power isto be supplied.

As described above, when supply of electric power from the electricpower system to the consumer is stopped (in a power outage), there is aneed to stop operation of the renewable power source that is operated bybeing linked to the electric power system or to disconnect the renewablepower source from the electric power system to prevent a reverse powerflow.

Therefore, the power conditioner is ordinarily provided with a circuitbreaker or the like for disconnecting the renewable power source fromthe electric power system when a power outage is detected. When therenewable power source is not connected to the electric power system,electric power can be supplied from the emergency receptacle to loads.

In ordinary cases, selection of the autonomous operation function is notautomatically made when a power outage occurs, and there is a need forthe consumer to activate the autonomous operation function. Also whenthe linking operation is performed by again linking the renewable powersource to the electric power system at the time of power restorationfrom the outage, there is also a need for the consumer to stop theautonomous operation function and to link the renewable power source tothe electric power system. Thus, there is a problem that the operationto change the operating mode of the renewable power source isburdensome.

RELATED ART LITERATURE Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-092844-   Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-011612

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to provide a power connectioncontrol system and method to facilitate switching of the autonomousoperation function with the energy provision equipment that a consumerowns when a power outage occurs in the electric power system.

A power connection control system for achieving the above-describedobject according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention is apower connection control system provided with energy provision equipmentto be linked to an electric power system, the energy provision equipmentthat can supply electric power to electrical appliances that a consumerowns, the power connection control system including:

a connection control apparatus that includes an opening/closing devicecapable of connecting or disconnecting the electric power system and theconsumer, and that, when a power outage occurs in the electric powersystem, disconnects the electric power system and the consumer from eachother by the opening/closing device at a command received from theoutside; and

a power supply control apparatus that, when the power outage occurs inthe electric power system, supplies electric power from the energyprovision equipment to the electrical appliances.

Alternatively, the power connection control system according to anexemplary aspect of the present invention is a power connection controlsystem provided with energy provision equipment to be linked to anelectric power system, the energy provision equipment that can supplyelectric power to electrical appliances that a consumer owns, the powerconnection control system including:

an outage management apparatus that, when a power outage occurs in theelectric power system, transmits a parallel-off command to disconnectthe electric power system and the consumer from each other and, at thetime of power restoration from the power outage, transmits a linkagecommand for linking the electric power system and the consumer to eachother;

a connection control apparatus that includes an opening/closing devicecapable of connecting or disconnecting the electric power system and theconsumer, and that, when the power outage occurs in the electric powersystem, disconnects the electric power system and the consumer from eachother by the opening/closing device at the parallel-off command from theoutage management apparatus; and

a power supply control apparatus that, when the power outage occurs inthe electric power system, supplies electric power from the energyprovision equipment to the electrical appliances.

On the other hand, a power connection control method according to anexemplary aspect of the present invention is a power connection controlmethod for disconnecting, from an electric power system, energyprovision equipment that can supply electric power to electricalappliances that a consumer owns, the method including:

providing an opening/closing device that connects or disconnects theelectric power system and the consumer;

a control apparatus disconnecting, when a power outage occurs in theelectric power system, the electric power system and the consumer fromeach other by the opening/closing device at a command received from theoutside; and

a first computer supplying electric power from the energy provisionequipment to the electrical appliances during the power outage in theelectric power system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of apower connection control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of aconsumer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of aconnection control apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of apower supply control apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of aninformation processor for realizing the power supply control apparatusshown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of anoutage management apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a sequence of process stepsin the power supply control apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of apower connection control system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is ablock diagram showing an example of a configuration of a consumer shownin FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of consumer 2by extracted from the power connection control system shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the power connection control system of thepresent invention, consumer 2 provided with energy provision equipmentthat can supply electric power to loads (electrical appliances) isconnected to outage management apparatus (second computer) 1 thatmanages an electric power system when a power outage occurs, and that isprovided in an electric power company. While FIG. 1 shows an example inwhich one consumer 2 is connected to the electric power system andoutage management apparatus 1, a plurality of consumers 2 are connectedto the electric power system and outage management apparatus 1 inactuality.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, consumer 2 has connection control apparatus21, power supply control apparatus (first computer) 22, energy provisionequipment 23 and one or a plurality of electrical appliances (loads) 24.Energy provision equipment 23 and electrical appliances 24 areordinarily connected to power wiring in the consumer 2 through adistribution panel not illustrated. The distribution panel includes awell-known earth leakage circuit breaker and a molded-case circuitbreaker and distributes electric power supplied from the electric powersystem or energy provision equipment 23 to electrical appliances 24provided in the consumer's house or building. Consumer 2 may be capableof communicating various sorts of information to and from a serverapparatus or the like managed, for example, by the electric powercompany through connection control apparatus 21, as shown in FIG. 2. Theapparatus connected to connection control apparatus 21 is not limited tooutage management apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1. While FIGS. 1 and 2 showa configuration example in which energy provision equipment 23 isprovided outside consumer 2 (outside the house or building) and in whichall electrical appliances 24 are provided in consumer 2 (in the house orbuilding), energy provision equipment 23 may be provided in consumer 2and some of electrical appliances 24 may be provided outside consumer 2.

Electrical appliances 24 are any of various appliances that consumer 2owns consuming electric power, including home appliances such as anelectric light, an air conditioner, a television receiver, arefrigerator, a washing machine, a microwave oven, a rice cooker and acleaner, office appliances such as a copying machine, a facsimiletransmitter and a computer, and factory appliances such as machine toolsand manufacturing machines.

On each of electrical appliances 24 in the present exemplary embodiment,power detection means for measuring the power consumption of theappliance and information communication means for transmitting measuredvalues from the power detection means to power supply control apparatus22, for example, are mounted. As power detection means, a well-knownelectronic-type electric-power sensor with a current transformer and avoltage transformer, for example, can be used. As informationcommunication means, Zigbee (trademark), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), UWB(Ultra Wide Band), Bluetooth (trademark) or the like, for example, maybe used in the case of using wireless communication, and Ethernet(trademark), PLC or the like may be used in the case of using wiredcommunication. The power consumption of electrical appliances 24 may bemeasured, for example, with respect to each of receptacles or eachmolded-case circuit breaker instead of being measured with respect toeach electrical appliance 24. In such a case, power detection means andinformation communication means may be provided that correspond to eachreceptacle or molded-case circuit breaker instead of being mounted oneach electrical appliance 24. In a case where some of electricalappliances 24 are each an appliance called a smart home appliance, theappliance called a smart home appliance is ordinarily provided withpower detection means and information communication means. In such acase, the power consumption of each smart home appliance may betransmitted from the smart home appliance at the request of power supplycontrol apparatus 22 or periodically at predetermined intervals. For thepower consumption of each electrical appliance 24, the rated powerconsumption of electrical appliance 24 may be used. The power detectionmeans and the information communication means may be provided accordingto need. It is not necessarily required that the power detection meansand the information communication means be provided on all electricalappliances 24 that consumer 2 owns.

Energy provision equipment 23 is a renewable power source such as awell-known solar power generator or a wind power generator, a storagebattery, or the like. Energy provision equipment 23 is not limited to arenewable power source or a storage battery. As energy provisionequipment 23, a well-known distributed power source such as a fuel cell,a generator using fossil energy or a cogeneration system may be used.

Energy provision equipment 23 is connected to the above-mentioneddistribution panel through a generally well-known power conditioner (notillustrated) to be linked to the power wiring in consumer 2. The powerconditioner is a device that enables linkage of electric power generatedin the renewable power source or the distributed power source to theelectric power system, and that controls the amount of power generationin the renewable power source or in the distributed power source asrequired. If energy provision equipment 23 is a storage battery, thepower conditioner has a function to control charge and discharge of thestorage battery. The power conditioner may only be connected to energyprovision equipment 23 and may be provided in or outside of energyprovision equipment 23.

Energy provision equipment 23 in the present exemplary embodimentincludes power measuring means for measuring the amount of output ofelectric power and information communication means for transmitting themeasured value from the power measuring means to power supply controlapparatus 22 and for communicating various sorts of information(including command signals or the like) to and from power supply controlapparatus 22. The value of the amount of output of electric power fromenergy provision equipment 23 measured by the power measuring means istransmitted to power supply control apparatus 22. The informationcommunication means transmits the measured value from the powermeasuring means to power supply control apparatus 22 at a command frompower supply control apparatus 22 or periodically at predeterminedintervals. The power measuring means and the information communicationmeans may be provided in energy provision equipment 23 or, for example,in the above-described power conditioner. As power measuring means, awell-known electronic-type electric-power sensor with a currenttransformer and a voltage transformer, for example, may be used. Asinformation communication means, Zigbee (trademark), WiFi (WirelessFidelity), UWB (Ultra Wide Band), Bluetooth (trademark) or the like, forexample, may be used in the case of using wireless communication, andEthernet (trademark), PLC (Power Line Communication) or the like may beused in the case of using wired communication. While FIGS. 1 and 2 showthe configuration example in which consumer 2 is provided with one unitof energy provision equipment 23, consumer 2 may be provided with aplurality of units of energy provision equipment 23. The power measuringmeans and the information communication means may be provided accordingto need. It is not necessarily required that the power measuring meansand the information communication means be provided on all units ofenergy provision equipment 23 of consumer 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, connection control apparatus 21 shown in FIGS. 1 and2 includes opening/closing device 211 inserted between an incoming linefrom the electric power system and the above-described distributionpanel, control device 212 that controls the operation of opening/closingdevice 211, and communication device 213 for communicating informationto and from outage management apparatus 1 and power supply controlapparatus 22 through a communication line. A watt-hour meter (notillustrated) for measuring the amount of electric power supplied fromthe electric power system to consumer 2 is ordinarily provided at aconnection node between the electric power system and consumer 2. Aswatt-hour meter, a well-known smart meter, for example, is used. In thecase of using a smart meter as watt-hour meter, the watt-hour meter isconnected through a communication line to a well-known MDNS (Meter DataManagement System) that manages electricity rates or the like withrespect to each consumer, and the watt-hour meter notifies the MDMS ofthe amount of electric power measured periodically at predeterminedintervals.

Control device 212 in connection control apparatus 21 can be realized asa well-known LSI or the like including a drive circuit for controllingthe operations of a memory and opening/closing device 211, for example.As communication device 213, a device in accordance with a well-knowncommunication protocol using the Internet or a privately used line maybe used.

Connection control apparatus 21 shown in FIG. 3 can be realized as awell-known transfer-trip-relay receiver, for example. In a case wherethe above-described watt-hour meter includes an opening/closing deviceand control means for controlling the opening/closing device, functionsof connection control apparatus 21 can be realized by means of thewatt-hour meter.

While FIG. 1 shows a configuration example in which connection controlapparatus 21 is connected to outage management apparatus 1 through aprivately used line, connection control apparatus 21 and outagemanagement apparatus 1 may transmit and receive information by usingwell-known wireless communication means. If well-known PLC is used forcommunication between connection control apparatus 21 and outagemanagement apparatus 1, there is no need for any communication line.

Control device 212 in connection control apparatus 21 setsopening/closing device 211 to “closed” (short) at a command from outagemanagement apparatus 1 when power transmission is performed, and setsopening/closing device 211 to “open” (disconnection) when a power outageoccurs in the electric power system. When opening/closing device 211 is“closed” (short), consumer 2 is connected to the electric power system.When opening/closing device 211 is “open” (disconnection), consumer 2 isdisconnected from the electric power system. At the time of restorationfrom a power outage, however, when control device 212 is notified of“outage restoration” from outage management apparatus 1, it transfers“outage restoration” to power supply control apparatus 22 whilemaintaining opening/closing device 211 in the “open” state. Thereafter,when control device 212 receives from outage management apparatus 1 a“linkage command”, which is a command to establish linkage to theelectric power system, it changes the opening/closing device 211 to“closed”.

If, at the time of restoration from a power outage, a number of units ofenergy provision equipment 23, such as renewable power sources, aresimultaneously linked to the electric power system, the quality ofdistributed electric power is reduced due to reverse power flows fromthe units of energy provision equipment 23 and there is a possibility ofthe system being, at worst, again driven into a power outage. In thearrangement in which, as described above, connection control apparatus21 changes opening/closing device 211 to “closed” at the stage at whicha “linkage command” is notified from outage management apparatus 1managed by an electric power company or the like, timings of linkages ofthe units of energy provision equipment 23 held by the consumers to theelectric power system can be controlled by outage management apparatus1. That is, if outage management apparatus 1 performs control so thatthe units of energy provision equipment 23 are not simultaneously linkedto the electric power system, degradation of the quality of distributedelectric power due to reverse power flows from the units of energyprovision equipment 23 at the time of restoration from a power outagecan be limited.

As shown in FIG. 4, power supply control apparatus 22 includesprocessing section 221, storage section 222 and communication section223.

Storage section 222 holds information on the amount of electric powerthat can be output from energy provision equipment 23, the powerconsumption of each electrical appliance 24 and “the degree ofimportance” set for each electrical appliance 24 as described below.

Communication section 223 enables communication of information to orfrom connection control apparatus 21, energy provision equipment 23 andelectrical appliances 24. Communication section 223 may use, forexample, Zigbee (trademark), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), UWB (Ultra WideBand), Bluetooth (trademark) or the like in the case of performingwireless communication of information, and may use Ethernet (trademark),PLC or the like in the case of performing wired communication ofinformation.

Processing section 221 manages supply of electric power from energyprovision equipment 23 that consumer 2 owns to electrical appliances 24.For example, when consumer 2 is disconnected from the electric powersystem by connection control apparatus 21 at a command from outagemanagement apparatus 1, processing section 221 makes energy provisionequipment 23 enter an autonomous operation mode to supply electric powerto electrical appliances 24. When “outage restoration” is notified fromoutage management apparatus 1 through connection control apparatus 21,processing section 221 stops the operation with energy provisionequipment 23 in the autonomous operation mode and establishes linkage tothe electric power system.

Processing section 221 also performs powering on/off of each electricalappliance 24. Powering on/off of electrical appliances 24 may becontrolled with respect to each electrical appliance 24 or may becontrolled with respect to each receptacle, earth leakage circuitbreaker or molded-case circuit breaker. For powering on/off of eachelectrical appliance 24, if electrical appliance 24 has a function topermit control from the outside, such a function may be used. Ifelectrical appliance 24 has no such function, it may be controlled byproviding an opening/closing switch on the power supply line. It is notnecessary that processing section 221 perform powering on/off of allelectrical appliances 24 that consumer 2 owns. Some of electricalappliances 24 may be exempted from the objects to be controlled.

When a power outage occurs in the electric power system, processingsection 221 obtains the value of the amount of electric power providablefrom energy provision equipment 23, such as a predicted amount ofelectric power that will be generated from a renewable power source oran amount of electricity stored in a storage battery, and also obtainsthe power consumption of electrical appliances 24. Then, based on theamount of electric power providable from energy provision equipment 23,the power consumption of electrical appliances 24 and on the degree ofimportance set for electrical appliances 24 in advance, processingsection 221 starts supply of electric power from energy provisionequipment 23 to electrical appliances 24 that has a higher degree ofimportance within a range in which electric power can be provided fromenergy provision equipment 23.

When processing section 221 receives a “predicted outage time period”from outage management apparatus 1 through connection control apparatus21, it maintains supply of electric power to electrical appliances 24that has a higher degree of importance and that is operable according tothe predicted outage time period, and stops supply of electric power tothe other electrical appliances 24. A predicted amount of powergeneration, for example, with respect to a solar power generation unit,may be computed by considering the relationship between atmosphericphenomena data on a regional basis and the expected amount of powergeneration, provided from the manufacturer of the solar power generationunit, a loss due to installation conditions or the like, and otherfactors. If a public institution, a company or the like that provides apredicted amount of power generation exists, the predicted amount ofpower generation may be obtained from the institution, company or thelike through a communication line in the Internet or the like. Thearrangement may alternatively be such that a database is prepared byobtaining and storing the value of the amount of power generation fromthe renewable power source periodically at predetermined intervalsthrough power supply control apparatus 22, and a predicted amount ofpower generation is determined based on the database. In such a case, anamount of power generation in a past time period matching or close tothe weather condition in the predicted outage time period may be set asa predicted amount of power generation. An amount of electricity storedin a storage battery may be obtained from the power conditioner thatcontrols charge and discharge of the storage battery. A predicted amountof power generation or an amount of stored electricity may be obtainedwhen a predicted outage time period is received or may be periodicallyobtained and stored (updated) at intervals set in advance.

Further, when processing section 221 in power supply control apparatus22 receives “outage restoration” from outage management apparatus 1through connection control apparatus 21 and stops the autonomousoperation with energy provision equipment 23, it notifies outagemanagement apparatus 1 of “linkage ready” through connection controlapparatus 21, and notifies outage management apparatus 1 of “linkageoperation time” indicating the time period from receiving theabove-mentioned “linkage command” to actually enabling linkage of energyprovision equipment 23 to the electric power system and “predictedamount of reverse power flow” indicating the amount of electric power ofa reverse power flow to the electric power system that is expected to becaused at the time of linkage.

The linkage operation time is a time period required for processing(including frequency adjustment and phase adjustment) from connectingenergy provision equipment 23 to the electric power system to enablingthe linked operation of energy provision equipment 23. The linkageoperation time may be set in advance, for example, according to thecharacteristics of energy provision equipment 23 and the powerconditioner. As the predicted amount of reverse power flow, a surplusamount of electric power (predicted value) computed from the predictedamount of power generated from the renewable power source at the time oflinkage and a predicted total power consumption of electrical appliances24 at the time of linkage may be used.

In this case, when outage management apparatus 1 receives the “linkageoperation time” and “predicted amount of reverse power flow” throughconnection control apparatus 21, it schedules a time to establishlinkage to the electric power system for each consumer based on the“linkage operation time” and “predicted amount of reverse power flow”and transmits “linkage command” to connection control apparatus 21 ofconsumer 2 according to the scheduled time. At this time, outagemanagement apparatus 1 may schedule the time in the linkage command tobe transmitted to connection control apparatus 21 in each consumer 2 sothat the adjustment load on the electric power system is minimized, forexample, the amount of adjustment of power generation by an adjustingpower source (a thermal power plant or the like) necessary forstabilizing the distributed voltage and the distributed frequency isminimized.

Power supply control apparatus 22 shown in FIG. 4 can be realized, forexample, by means of an information processor (computer) shown in FIG.5. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of aninformation processor for realizing the power supply control apparatusshown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The information processor shown in FIG. 5 includes processing device 100that executes predetermined processing in accordance with a program,input device 200 for inputting commands, information and the like toprocessing device 100, and output device 300 for outputting the resultsof processing in processing device 100.

Input device 200 is, for example, a keyboard or a pointing device suchas a mouse, a touch pad or a touch panel.

Output device 300 includes a display device such as a liquid crystaldisplay and a printing device such as a printing machine.

Processing device 100 includes CPU 110, main storage device 120 thattemporarily holds information necessary for processing in CPU 110,recording medium 130 on which a program for making CPU 110 execute theprocessing according to the present invention is recorded, dataaccumulation device 140 that stores information, for example, on theamount of electric power providable from energy provision equipment 23,the power consumptions of electrical appliances 24 and “the degrees ofimportance” of electrical appliances 24, memory control interfacesection 150 that controls data transfer with respect to main storagedevice 120, recording medium 130 and data accumulation device 140, I/Ointerface section 160, which is a device for interfacing with inputdevice 200 and output device 300, and communication control device 170for communication of information to or from connection control apparatus21 and electrical appliances 24 through the communication line. Thesecomponents are connected through a bus 180.

Processing device 100 executes processing in accordance with the programrecorded on recording medium 130 to realize a power connection controlmethod described in the description of the present exemplary embodiment.Recording medium 130 may be a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, anoptical disk or any other recording medium. It is not necessary toprovide data accumulation device 140 in processing device 100. Dataaccumulation device 140 may be an independent device. Functions ofprocessing section 221 shown in FIG. 4 are realized by means ofprocessing device 100 shown in FIG. 5; functions of storage section 222shown in FIG. 4 are realized by means of data accumulation device 140;and functions of communication section 223 shown in FIG. 4 are realizedby means of communication control device 170.

As shown in FIG. 6, outage management apparatus 1 includes processingsection 11, storage section 12 and communication section 13.

To outage management apparatus 1, a distribution automation system (notillustrated) that controls, for example, the operation of the electricpower system is connected through a communication line. When a poweroutage in the electric power system occurs, “outage section information”indicating a distribution section where the power outage is occurringand “system consumer accommodation information” indicating consumers 2accommodated in the electric power system are provided from thedistribution automation system through communication section 13. “Outagesection information” and “system consumer accommodation information”provided from the distribution automation system are stored in storagesection 12. The distribution automation system is described, forexample, in “Internet electric power lecture for university students”,4. Power distribution techniques, Distribution automation system(Internet URL: http://www.tepco.co.jp/kouza/haiden/haiden-j.html).

When a power outage occurs in the electric power system, processingsection 11 in outage management apparatus 1 obtains the current “outagesection information” from the above-described distribution automationsystem, extracts consumers 2 accommodated in the outage section based on“system consumer accommodation information” provided from thedistribution automation system, and transmits “parallel-off command” toconnection control apparatus 21 for extracted consumers 2 throughcommunication section 13 to make connection control apparatus 21 performdisconnection (paralleling off) from the electric power system. At thistime, processing section 11 transmits information on an expected outagetime period (predicted outage time period) to power supply controlapparatus 22 through connection control apparatus 21. As predictedoutage time period at this stage, a value from past actual restorationtime periods corresponding to details of accidents prepared as adatabase by the electric power company, for example, may be used. Outagemanagement apparatus 1 is arranged so that a predicted outage timeperiod corresponding to the last restored state can be input to outagemanagement apparatus 1 by the operator of outage management apparatus 1.When the predicted outage time period is updated by the operator,processing section 11 in outage management apparatus 1 transmits thispredicted outage time period to connection control apparatuses 21 thatconsumer 2 owns in the outage section.

When the electric power system is restored from the power outage thathas occurred in the electric power system, processing section 11 inoutage management apparatus 1 notifies connection control apparatuses 21for consumers 2, to which the above-mentioned “parallel-off command” hasbeen transmitted, of “outage restoration” indicating restoration fromthe outage, and thereafter transmits “linkage command” to establishlinkage to the electric power system.

Outage management apparatus 1 can be realized, for example, by means ofthe information processor (computer) shown in FIG. 5, as in the case ofpower supply control apparatus 22. In a case where outage managementapparatus 1 is realized by means of the information processor, functionsof processing section 11 shown in FIG. 6 are realized by means ofprocessing device 100 shown in FIG. 5; functions of storage section 12shown in FIG. 6 are realized by means of data accumulation device 140;and functions of communication section 13 shown in FIG. 6 are realizedby means of communication control device 170. For input of a predictedoutage time period by the operator of outage management apparatus 1,input device 200 shown in FIG. 5 may be used.

In this arrangement, information on the degrees of importance ofelectrical appliances 24 set by consumer 2 in advance is stored in powersupply control apparatus 22. The degree of importance is set in aplurality of steps. The highest degree of importance may be set, forexample, for a security system, disaster prevention equipment such asemergency lights, fire-fighting facilities, or the like. Other degreesof importance may be attached to electrical appliances 24 in order ofdecreasing priority with which consumer 2 wants to operate in the eventof a power outage. Electrical appliances 24 to which the highest degreeof importance is attached are assumed to include the above-describedpower supply control apparatus 22, connection control apparatus 21, andthe power conditioner provided on energy provision equipment 23. It isnot necessarily required that the degree of importance be attached toeach electrical appliance 24. For example, the degree of importance maybe set with respect to each receptacle or with respect to each earthleakage circuit breaker or molded-case circuit breaker, or may be setwith respect to each of predetermined areas including a plurality ofloads (electrical appliances) or each of predetermined places. Forexample, in a case where consumer 2 is formed of commercial facilitiesor hotel facilities having a plurality of floors, a higher degree ofimportance may be set for lights in an emergency stair case, emergencylights on common passageways on the floors, or the like.

Power supply control apparatus 22 is assumed to collect, bypredetermined timing or periodically, the values of the powerconsumptions of electrical appliances 24 and the amount of electricpower providable from energy provision equipment 23, and store thecollected values in storage section 222.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a sequence of process stepsin the power supply control apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 7 shows an example of setting degrees of importance in which threedegrees of importance: the highest degree of importance [A], the nextdegree of importance [B] and the lowest degree of importance [C] are setfor electrical appliances 24 in advance. The number of degrees ofimportance attached to electrical appliances 24 is not limited to three.Any number of degrees of importance, not smaller than two, may be set.Processing in power supply control apparatus 22 described below isexecuted in processing section 221 shown in FIG. 4.

As described above, when a power outage occurs in the electric powersystem, connection control apparatus 21 sets opening/closing device 211to “open” at “parallel-off command” from outage management apparatus 1,for example. Connection control apparatus 21 also notifies power supplycontrol apparatus 22 of the parallel-off state from the electric powersystem and transfers a “predicted outage time period” received fromoutage management apparatus 1 to power supply control apparatus 22. Whenconnection control apparatus 21 receives an updated “predicted outagetime period” from outage management apparatus 1 during the power outage,it transfers the “predicted outage time period” to power supply controlapparatus 22.

On the other hand, when connection control apparatus 21 is notified of“outage restoration” from outage management apparatus 1 at the time ofrestoration from the power outage, it transfers “outage restoration” topower supply control apparatus 22 while maintaining opening/closingdevice 211 in the “open” state. Thereafter, when “linkage command” istransmitted from outage management apparatus 1, connection controlapparatus 21 sets opening/closing device 211 to “closed” and notifiespower supply control apparatus 22 of linkage to the electric powersystem.

As shown in FIG. 7, power supply control apparatus 22 determines whetheror not the parallel-off command has been notified from connectioncontrol apparatus 21 (step S1), and repeats processing in step S1 if theparallel-off command has not been notified. When the parallel-offcommand is notified from the electric power system (e.g., outagemanagement apparatus 1), power supply control apparatus 22 changesenergy provision equipment 23 into the autonomous operation mode (stepS2).

When energy provision equipment 23 is in the autonomous operation mode,power supply control apparatus 22 first determines whether or not theoutage restoration has been notified (step S3). When the outagerestoration is notified, the process proceeds to processing in step S12.

If the outage restoration has not been notified, power supply controlapparatus 22 determines whether or not a predicted outage time period oran updated predicted outage time period has been notified (step S4). Ifno predicted outage time period or updated predicted outage time periodhas been notified, processing from step S3 is repeated.

If a predicted outage time period or an updated predicted outage timeperiod has been notified, power supply control apparatus 22 obtainsinformation on the amount of electric power providable from energyprovision equipment 23 in the predicted outage time period, e.g., apredicted amount of power generation from the renewable power source oran amount of electricity stored in the storage battery (step S5).

Next, power supply control apparatus 22 compares the amount of electricpower providable from energy provision equipment 23 in the predictedoutage time period and the total amount of electric power to be consumedby the load or loads (electrical appliances 24) with the degree ofimportance [A] in the predicted outage time period to determine whetheror not electrical appliances 24 with the degree of importance [A] can beoperated within the predicted outage time period (step S6). Ifelectrical appliances 24 with the degree of importance [A] can beoperated, electric power is supplied to the same electrical appliances(step S7), and the process proceeds to processing in step S8.

If electrical appliances 24 with the degree of importance [A] cannot beoperated, power supply control apparatus 22 repeats processing from stepS3 without executing supply of electric power from energy provisionequipment 23 to electrical appliances 24 with the degree of importance[A]. Even in the case where electrical appliances 24 with the degree ofimportance [A] cannot be operated through the predicted outage timeperiod, they may be operated within a time period in which electricpower can be supplied from energy provision equipment 23.

In step S8, power supply control apparatus 22 compares the amount ofelectric power providable from energy provision equipment 23 in thepredicted outage time period and the total amount of electric power tobe consumed by electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of importance[A] and [B] in the predicted outage time period to determine whether ornot electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of importance [A] and [B]can be operated within the predicted outage time period. If electricalappliances 24 with the degrees of importance [A] and [B] can beoperated, electric power is supplied to the same electrical appliances(step S9), and the process proceeds to processing in step S10.

If electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of importance [A] and [B]cannot be operated, power supply control apparatus 22 repeats processingfrom step S3 without executing supply of electric power from energyprovision equipment 23 to electrical appliances 24 with the degree ofimportance [B].

In step S10, power supply control apparatus 22 compares the amount ofelectric power providable from energy provision equipment 23 in thepredicted outage time period and the total amount of electric power tobe consumed by electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of importance[A], [B], and [C] in the predicted outage time period to determinewhether or not electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of importance[A], [B], and [C] can be operated within the predicted outage timeperiod. If electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of importance [A],[B], and [C] can be operated, electric power is supplied to the sameelectrical appliances (step S11), and the process proceeds to processingin step S3.

If electrical appliances 24 with the degrees of importance [A], [B], and[C] cannot be operated, power supply control apparatus 22 repeatsprocessing from step S3 without executing supply of electric power fromenergy provision equipment 23 to electrical appliances 24 with thedegree of importance [C].

When, in step S4, power supply control apparatus 22 receives an updatedpredicted outage time period from connection control apparatus 21,repeats processing in the above-described steps S5 to S11 to executesupply of electric power to electrical appliances 24 having higherdegrees of importance operable within the predicted outage time periodon the basis of the amount of electric power providable from energyprovision equipment 23 at the current point in time.

When, in step S3, “outage restoration” is notified from outagemanagement apparatus 1 through connection control apparatus 21, powersupply control apparatus 22 stops energy provision equipment 23 in theautonomous operation mode, notifies outage management apparatus 1 of“linkage ready” through connection control apparatus 21, and notifiesoutage management apparatus 1 of “linkage operation time” indicating thetime period from receiving the above-mentioned “linkage command” toactually enabling linkage of energy provision equipment 23 to theelectric power system and “predicted amount of reverse power flow”indicating the amount of electric power of a reverse power flow to theelectric power system that is expected to be caused at the time oflinkage (step S12).

Thereafter, when “linkage command” is notified from outage managementapparatus 1, power supply control apparatus 22 enters a linked operationmode (step S13) and thereafter repeats processing from step S1.

In the present exemplary embodiment, when a power outage occurs in theelectric power system, connection control apparatus 21 setsopening/closing device 211 to “open” at the parallel-off command fromoutage management apparatus 1 to disconnect energy provision equipment23 from the electric power system. At the time of restoration from thepower outage, connection control apparatus 21 sets opening/closingdevice 211 to “closed” at the linkage command from outage managementapparatus 1 to link energy provision equipment 23 to the electric powersystem, thus enabling automatic switching between the autonomousoperation and the linked operation of energy provision equipment 23.Thus, the autonomous operation of energy provision equipment 23 in apower outage is enabled while the need for a burdensome switchingoperation at the time of occurrence of the power outage and at the timeof restoration from the power outage is eliminated.

Power supply control apparatus 22 starts the autonomous operation ofenergy provision equipment 23 after disconnection from the electricpower system made by connection control apparatus 21 in a power outagein the electric power system. When the electric power system is restoredfrom the power outage, power supply control apparatus 22 links energyprovision equipment 23 to the electric power system after establishingconnection with the electric power system, so that no adverse influenceon the electric power system is caused.

Thus, adverse influence on the electric power system can be reducedwhile switching of the autonomous operation function with energyprovision equipment 23 performed by consumer 2 at the time of occurrenceof a power outage and at the time of restoration from the power outageis facilitated.

Further, outage management apparatus 1 can schedule, at the time ofrestoration from the power outage, a time for a linkage command to betransmitted to connection control apparatus 21 for each consumer 2 basedon a linkage operation time and a predicted amount of reverse power flowtransmitted from power supply control apparatus 22 so that the load onthe electric power system is minimized, for example, the amount ofadjustment of power generation by an adjusting power source (a thermalpower plant or the like) necessary for stabilizing the distributedvoltage and the distributed frequency is minimized, thus enablinglinkage of energy provision equipment 23 for each consumer 2 whilereducing the adjustment load on the electric power system.

The present invention has been described by referring to the exemplaryembodiment thereof. However, the present invention is not limited to theabove-described exemplary embodiment. Various changes and modificationsunderstandable by those skilled in the art can be made in theconfiguration and details of the present invention within the scope ofthe present invention.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-209371, field on Sep. 26,2011; the entire contents of which are incorporated therein byreference.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An outage management apparatus comprising:a processing section that schedules time to establish linkage for everyunit of energy provision equipment to an electric power system based onat least either a linkage operation time, which is received from theunit of energy provision equipment, representing a time period fromconnecting the unit of energy provision equipment to the electric powersystem to enable a linkage operation of the unit of energy provisionequipment with the electric power system or a predicted amount ofreverse power flow, which is received from the unit of energy provisionequipment, representing an amount of electric power of a reverse powerflow from the unit of energy provision equipment to the electric powersystem, at a time of restoration from a power outage; and acommunication section that transmits a linkage command, for linking theunit of energy provision equipment to the electric power system, to eachunit of energy provision equipment according to the scheduled time toestablish linkage, wherein said processing section schedules a time toestablish linkage for every unit of energy provision equipment so thatan amount of adjustment of electric power generated by an adjustingpower source of the electric power system is minimized.
 2. The outagemanagement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communicationsection, when at least either the linkage operation time or thepredicted amount of reverse power flow, that are transmitted from theunit of energy provision equipment in response to the restoration ofpower from the power outage, is received, transmits the linkage command,which is a command to link the unit of energy provision equipment to theelectric power system, to each unit of energy provision equipment. 3.The outage management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidcommunication section transmits a parallel-off command which is acommand to disconnect the unit of energy provision equipment from theelectric power system based on at least either outage sectioninformation indicating a distribution section where the power outage isoccurring or system consumer accommodation information indicatingconsumers accommodated in the electric power system.